Rapper Wale currently in Nigeria!
30 Jan 2016
$2.1bn arms deal: EFCC operative arrested for collecting N45m bribe from indicted military officers
A statement issued by EFCC’s spokesperson, Wilson Uwujaren, said Abdulrahman collected the money from the indicted military officers with a promise to give them soft landing to escape probe.
The statement said:
“An operative of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Abdulrahman Mohammed Biu, a Deputy Detective Superintendent, (DDS) has been arrested for offences bordering on extortion, influence peddling and impersonation. The officer was arrested on Monday following intelligence report alleging that he extorted a whopping sum of $150,000 from some military officers on the pretext that he would help give them a soft landing in the ongoing investigation into the arms deal scandal. Upon his arrest, a search was executed on his residence in Abuja where the following items were recovered: $20,000 cash, N500, 000 cash, two police uniforms bearing his name with the ranks of Deputy Superintendent and Assistant Superintendent, Police warrant card No: 27/2014 with the rank of DSP allegedly obtained from Kano Constabulary office, documents relating to military arms investigation and account information of several senior military officers. A search of his car parked in the premises yielded the following items: unbranded pistol with a magazine and 10 live ammunitions. His modus operandi includes dropping the names of ranking officers of the commission, claiming he was acting on their behalf. A paper containing seven of such names was recovered in his house. The suspect has made useful statement, while investigation continues.”.
See How People gather around madwoman in Aba to get lucky betting numbers (photos)
Dasukigate: Leadership Newspaper returns its share of N9 million
In a letter dated January 29 and addressed to the General Secretary of NPAN, the Publishing company owned by former APC Presidential aspirant, Sam Nda-Isaiah, said it decided to return the money following the controversy it has generated.
The company however noted that they did no wrong by collecting the money since the decision to collect the money was reached after former President Goodluck Jonathan reached for an out of court settlement with the affected newspapers.
Leadership will be the second publishing house after The Sun to return the said compensation.
The letter titled "Compensation for illegal seizure of newspapers", was signed by the Group Managing Director of Leadership Newspapers Group Limited, Mike Okpere. The letter reads
“We refer to the above subject matter and enclose herewith a Zenith Bank draft no 08549695 for the sum of N9,000,000.00 (Nine million Naira only) being refund of the compensation paid by the Goodluck Jonathan government for the crude and illegal seizure of our newspapers over a period of 5 days by soldiers from the 6th of June to the 10th of June 2014 through the Newspapers Proprietors Association of Nigeria (NPAN). It will be recalled that this was the sum paid to all newspapers which incurred losses as a result of the act which was arrived at when President Jonathan pleaded for an out of court settlement. It has come to our notice that the chairman of Daily Trust, Malam Kabiru Yusuf who was acting president of NPAN/chairman of the meeting held at Mr. Sam Amuka’s guest house in Lagos in December 2015 where it was agreed, after a detailed analysis of the situation that NPAN and the newspapers committed no offence by the out of court settlement and therefore had no reason to refund the compensation, has gone behind the association’s back and directed the Daily Trust to refund money. After such a dishonourable act by the one person under whose direction members of the association all agreed that there would be no need to refund the money, it is our view that it is no longer tenable not to refund. This is particularly more discomforting when it is recalled that the decision to agree to the out of court settlement and compensation was taken at the Abuja office of Daily Trust with Kabiru Yusuf in attendance. It is for this reason that we are refunding the N9 million. But we will like to maintain the general position that neither the NPAN nor newspaper committed any offence. Our chairman has also made it clear that he does not see any situation where LEADERSHIP will be part of any group that will take the current government to court. Therefore we should be counted out of any future decision to seek redress in court on this same matter. After all it is not the government that asked us to refund, it is the treachery of some of our members. Kindly be advised accordingly.”
Phil Collins back with 3rd ex-wife, 8 years after their £25m divorce
The couple married in 1999 and had two children. They separated in 2006 and officially divorced in 2008 saying they had "grown apart". But Collins has now revealed they are back together and even living together in Miami with their sons, Nicholas, 14, and Matthew, 11.
Collins revealed he had bought a house in Miami where Orianne and their two children live. He told Billboard magazine: "I'm actually back with my third wife - I haven't really talked about it. We've been together for a while, and nobody's noticed."
The singer is also a father to Joely, 43, and Simon, 39 (with his first wife, Andrea Bertorelli. Married from 75-80) and Lily, 26 (with his second wife, Jill Tavelman. Marriage ended in 1994).
New Ooni Ogunwusi Launches 60 Million Naira Made In Nigeria Buses For Mass Transit In Osun (Photos)
His Imperial Majesty, Ooni Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, Ojaja II, yesterday Thursday 28th January 2016 formally launched “Olofin Adimula Mass Transit Scheme” worth N60 million to force down transport fares.
Speaking during the launch at his Ile-Oodua palace in Ile-Ife, the Arole Oodua said that the air-conditioned 30 seater buses as an initiative in fulfillment of his developmental agenda for ameliorating the suffering of his people both within and outside Ife Kingdom would be managed by Olofin Microfinance Bank Limited.
He describing the scheme as a unique and important capable of promoting cultural tourism of Ile-Ife, he assured it would reduce travelling challenges faced by commuters.
The royal father stated that Ile-Ife is blessed with natural and human resources including Obafemi Awolowo University and teaching hospital which neighbouring towns are benefitting from.
He added that he has dialogued with other large and small scale industries to partner with him in empowering his people, ascertained that both old and young would benefit immensely from his reign.
The Ooni praised the kingmakers and Ife citizenry for chosing him as new keeper of the seal of Yoruba , promising that he would not disappoint them, but invest maximally for the development of the town.
According to him, he has just started the reformation, pledged over 20, 000 widows would be empowered, while numerous youths would be gainfully empowered.
The monarch lauded the Microfinance Bank for collaborating with him to bring down fares, charges Nigeria to patronise Nigeria made products so as to boost the economy of the country.
He assured NURTW and other transport unions that his reign will not inflict pains on them,but he is subsidizing the mass transit sector to reduce fares.
Speaking earlier, the Managing Director, Olofin Micro Finance Bank, Mr Toyin Olufolahan, commended Ooni for collaborating with the bank for promoting cultural tourism of Ife.
Olufolahan said that the process would generate thousand of jobs, assured Ile-Ife of a sustainable and robust mass transit programme.
The Bank manager said that Leyland Motor Company, Lagos made the buses which will ply Lagos, Ibadan, Benin, Port- Hacourt, Onitsha and Abuja.
He urged all and sundry to use Nigeria made for this would improve Nigerian economy and also declared that Ooni and the management of Olofin Micro finance Bank have organised free health scheme for ALL.
Comrade Moses Olafare,
Director of Media and Public Affairs,
Director of Media and Public Affairs,
Arsenal Set To Sign Nigerian Starlets Kelechi Nwakali & Samuel Chukwueze
Arsène Wenger is confident that Arsenal will complete the signings of the Nigeria youth internationals Kelechi Nwakali and Samuel Chukwueze before the transfer deadline on Monday.
But the manager suggested he would make no senior additions to supplement the purchase of Mohamed Elneny as the club’s injury situation had improved significantly. More on this topic
Wenger goes into Saturday’s FA Cup tie at home to Burnley with only Santi Cazorla and Jack Wilshere as long-term casualties.
Francis Coquelin is back in contention weeks ahead of schedule after a knee problem and Tomas Rosicky also back from knee trouble.
Danny Welbeck has returned to full training, having been out since April of last year with a knee injury, but he will need a few more weeks before he is competitive again.
Wenger said that David Ospina would start in goal against Burnley and he is expected to give Elneny, who joined two weeks ago from Basel, his full debut. Per Mertesacker is suspended after his red card in the home loss to Chelsea last Sunday.
“The team news is quite good because we have many players in training,” Wenger said.
“The only ones who are off training are Wilshere and Cazorla. We have 23 players in training, although not everybody is fully competitive. Welbeck still needs some training but he is back in full training.
“Will there be any other business?
No, not at the moment. As I told you, I have 23 players in training, plus two is 25 and unless people go out, we are not on the verge of bringing anyone in.”
Nwakali, an attacking midfielder, was the player of the Under-17 World Cup in Chile last year, which Nigeria won, and at which his team-mate Chukwueze, a winger, also impressed.
Nwakali, an attacking midfielder, was the player of the Under-17 World Cup in Chile last year, which Nigeria won, and at which his team-mate Chukwueze, a winger, also impressed.
They are part of the Diamond Football Academy in Nigeria. “The talks are progressing well,” Wenger said.
“Do I expect them to be done this month? Yes. Of course, there are work permit issues and medical issues, because they have to take medicals. But it is progressing well.
“We identified Nwakali as the player of the tournament, basically, and as a top player.
We will see if we can manage to get it over the line during this transfer period. [If we can], we will do it. Chukwueze is [signing] as well.”
Annie Idibia Awarded African Entertainment Legend Award For Fast Rising Actress (Photo)
The actress received the African Entertainment Legend Award for Fast Rising Actress.
Congrats to her!
29 Jan 2016
Spread Of Zika Virus Described As Explosive By WHO
The mosquito-born Zika virus may infect up to four million people, the World Health Organization said, as the agency convened to decide if the outbreak should be declared an international health emergency. Dr Margaret Chan, WHO director-general, said in a statement on Thursday that the level of alarm was “extremely high”.
“Last year, the virus was detected in the Americas, where it is now spreading explosively. As of today, cases have been reported in 23 countries and territories in the region,” Dr Chan said. “Arrival of the virus in some places has been associated with a steep increase in the birth of babies with abnormally small heads and in cases of Guillain-Barre syndrome.” The syndrome can cause temporary paralysis.
Meanwhile, Marcos Espinal, an infectious disease expert at the WHO’s Americas regional office, said: “We can expect three to four million cases of Zika virus disease.” He gave no time frame, the Reuters news agency reported. Dr Chan said a causal relationship between Zika virus infection and birth malformations and neurological syndromes was not yet established, but was “strongly suspected”.
She said the emergency committee would advise her on Monday in Geneva on the appropriate level of international concern and on recommended measures that should be undertaken in affected countries and elsewhere. Dr Chan will also ask the committee to prioritise areas where research is most urgently needed.
Javier Mascherano Sentenced To Jail Over Tax Evasion Charges
Javier Mascherano has been sentenced to a year in prison but is unlikely to ever serve time in jail, after a verdict was reached in his tax evasion case. The Argentine has been fined €815,000 and handed a year’s sentence for two counts of fiscal crimes committed in 2011 and 2012.
Mascherano has previously admitted to the offences, repaid the money owed and paid a hefty fine as recompense.
After such compliance with the investigation, the court is expected to grant the wish of Mascherano and his lawyer, David Aineto, in suspending the custodial sentence in exchange for a further fine.
The Barcelona star said in a statement released on Thursday: “I’m a professional sportsman and I don’t know a lot about legal and financial matters.
Javier Mascherano’s statement in full:
Today I have reached an agreement with the Spanish tax authorities, with a firm verdict agreed by all parties. Thus, with a resolution now for the legal matters and with the relief of having sorted my tax situation, I would like to make a brief statement.
After agreeing my move to Barcelona I contracted a specialist tax agency with well-known professionals that enjoy a great reputation. According to my situation they recommended me certain structures, all within the law, telling me that they were normal, transparent and accepted procedures.
I was assessed by these professionals from 2010 to 2014 I decided to change agency because of the proceedings I was facing, and with evidence that the problems may not be ‘potential’ but in fact very real. My new agency recommended that I pay the tax authorities the money they were claiming, presenting also a corrective payment.
Now, finally, after a long wait this agreement has arrived which allows me to relax again and go about my daily life.
I’m a professional sportsman and I don’t know a lot about legal and financial matters.
Therefore I must rely on the people that manage these technical, and for me, complicated, issues.
All my career I have been an honest and responsible person… I will take this experience that has accosted me as another experience which I will leave stronger and calmed by the fact that I am once again within the law.
Source: The Guardian
BREAKING NEWS!!! Biafra: Court Rejects Nnamdi Kanu’s Bail Application; See Why
The leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu, has asked that the lawyer who served as his lead counsel in previous sittings, M. U. Udechukwu, step down for Chucks Muoma.
Mr. Kanu wrote to the court, ahead of Friday’s sitting, asking that there should be a change in his representation.
Mr. Kanu is facing charges of treason.Unfortunately, Federal High Court, Abuja, dismisses bail application by Nnamdi Kanu, says he should remain in prison custody till the determination of his case.
Ruling on the bail application, Justice John Tsoho ordered that the Director of Radio Biafra and two other accused persons be remanded in Kuje prison pending their trial.
Earlier, a mild drama, The leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu, has asked that the lawyer who served as his lead counsel in previous sittings, M. U. Udechukwu, step down for Chucks Muoma.
Mr. Kanu wrote to the court, ahead of Friday’s sitting, asking that there should be a change in his representation.
Mr. Kanu is facing charges of treason. The court is to rule on his bail application today.
Mr. Kanu is facing charges of treason. The court is to rule on his bail application today.
In the letter, read during a dramatic session, the judge, John Tsoho said he was asked to change Mr. Kanu’s lead counsel, because according to Mr. Kanu, the person who represented him in previous sittings was different from the person he had instructed.
When lawyers announced their appearances, Mr. Udechukwu told the court that he had been informed of the letter, saying he would immediately stand down for Mr. Muoma to continue the case.
But Mr. Muoma said he was surprised that Mr. Udechukwu had raised the issue so early.
He said he had told Mr. Udechukwu that there was a letter to that effect, but that he should first complete the bail application he was handling, before withdrawing.
He said he had told Mr. Udechukwu that there was a letter to that effect, but that he should first complete the bail application he was handling, before withdrawing.
In his reaction, Mr. Udechukwu insisted on handing over the case, because the letter said he had impersonated the lead counsel at previous hearings.
Mr. Udechukwu said impersonation, a serious offence, could affect his legal profession of almost 20 years.
He therefore prayed the court to record his apology for the said offence, and that the court should note that he was withdrawing from the case.
He therefore prayed the court to record his apology for the said offence, and that the court should note that he was withdrawing from the case.
The judge, Mr. Tsoho, who had earlier hesitated to read the letter, regarding it as an issue that should be resolved by the counsels, asked to know the name of the particular counsel he would record for Mr. Kanu.
Mr. Muoma told the court that he and Mr. Ejiofor would take the place of the defendant’s counsel.
Mr. Udechukwu told the court that his withdrawal would affect the other counsels who came with him.
Mr. Udechukwu told the court that his withdrawal would affect the other counsels who came with him.
Watch Video And Photos Of The Tanzanian Lady Boyfriend Locked In A Pit For 8 Months Being Rescued
The video of the girl being rescued has been released…The Tanzanian lady forcefully spent 8 months in that hole because the boyfriend wanted to get rich fast.It is beyond heartbreaking ..How can a man do this ?…
She was fed only twice a week. She was later discovered miraculously alive after 8-months. The evil boyfriend has been arrested
See video below...
Undergraduates Rape, Rob Job Seeker, Take naked Photos To Implicate Her
The police in Lagos have arrested two undergraduates for allegedly raping a job-seeker, identified only as Nike, and robbing her of valuables in the Igando area of the state.
Punch Metro learnt that the suspects, identified as Valentine and Kusimo, allegedly took turns to rape their victim after luring her into a hotel.
Valentine, an indigene of Imo State, was said to be seeing off the 27-year-old with the hope that she would not raise the alarm when Nike suddenly called for help. The suspects were subsequently arrested and taken to the Igando Police Division.
The incident happened on Thursday, January 14, 2016, on Idowu Ibiyemi Street, in the Igando area of Lagos State.
The incident happened on Thursday, January 14, 2016, on Idowu Ibiyemi Street, in the Igando area of Lagos State.
A police source told our correspondent that Valentine and Nike had met on a dating site.
He said, “Valentine is a 400-level Civil Engineering student of a university in Imo State. He chatted up the lady on the dating site and from there, their conversation shifted to Whatsapp, a mobile messaging application.
“The suspect told his friend, Kusimo, about the girl and they decided to trick her. Kusimo, a student of a polytechnic in Ogun State, would sometimes take Valentine’s phone and be chatting with Nike, without the girl knowing that it was Kusimo.
“Having done that for some days, they decided to invite her to Lagos.”
It was gathered that Nike, an indigene of Osun State, travelled down from Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, where she was based, to the Igando area.
Our correspondent learnt that the victim and Valentine scheduled to meet at his house.
Punch Metro gathered that instead of taking her to his apartment, the suspect took her to a popular hotel in the area.
The source said, “The girl did not know she was taken to a hotel because he took her through the back into the room.
“The second suspect, had, however, hid inside the toilet. As the lady entered the room, Valentine shut the door and Kusimo jumped out from his hideout with a bottle. He smashed the bottle on the ground and he told the girl to cooperate or they would kill her.
“While Valentine had two rounds, the second suspect had three rounds of s*x with her. After they had raped her, they robbed her of her BlackBerry and N15, 000.
“In order to prevent her from exposing them, they took snapshots of her nakedness and threatened that if she told anyone about her ordeal, they would put the pictures on the Internet.”
Punch Metro gathered that after committing the act, Valentine decided to see Nike off.
The victim was, however, said to have raised the alarm, drawing the attention of passersby.
She was said to have narrated what happened to people, which led to the arrest of both suspects.
They were detained at the Igando Police Division, before the matter was transferred to the State Department of Criminal Investigation, Yaba.
Another police source, however, said the suspects claimed that Nike agreed to mutual s*x with them and only raised the alarm because she was not well paid.
She said, “How can you leave your place in Ibadan for Lagos and claim not to know what you are doing? It is not true that they raped her. She only wanted to make money off the men, and that was why she raised the alarm outside.
“The suspect said she demanded N200,000 for settlement and she is saying she does not want her fiancé and family members to be aware. She is not innocent.”
The Police Public Relations Officer, Dolapo Badmus, while confirming the incident, said the police had charged both suspects to court.
“Case charged to court,” she said in a text message.
“Case charged to court,” she said in a text message.
'I fear Super Eagles players might reject call ups because of owed salaries' - Sunday Oliseh
The 2017 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers is approaching and according to the one time Super Eagles captain, players might snub his calls.
“I only have one fear. It is that I just hope that the next time we send invitations out, that players won’t start refusing to play for Nigeria. That is something that is scary but it is real. We have to start thinking because we’re not going to work miracles anymore. I’m just afraid that if we don’t put our acts in order we might invite players for the next qualifications and may be some players (might not come); I’m afraid. Already I’m getting phone calls from them, you they’re still asking what they’re being owed.”
I Cannot Do Without Séx Daily – 16year Old Girl Confesses
16year Old Girl Who was a victim of séxual abuse has made a shocking confession, saying that she cannot do without having séx with men daily.
She narrated how an old man, who was their neighbour at Mile 12, Lagos State, southwest Nigeria, lured her into séx at seven and since then she cannot resist having séx everyday.
The primary two pupil said if she did not see any man to have séx with her in her area, she would go to a popular under bridge at Mile 12 Lagos and beg for séx from touts”.
Chris Brown Shared Photo Of GEJ On His Facebook Page, See What He Wrote
Chris Brown posted this Photo few hours ago on his Facebook Page..
See below:-
He was trying to pass a message, Thats when an Unknown Number, Start Texting you that they Miss you and you don’t have a Clue who the person is, You Start Thinking trying to Figure out who thats is.
No Insult, We understand what he was trying to Say, but shey na our own former president photo him suppose come use?
Rita Ora poses topless on the cover of Lui magazine
Rita Ora posed topless on an extremely raunchy display in a sexy new shoot for Lui magazine - shot by controversial photographer Terry Richardson.
Telecoms Operators Threaten To Shut Down Operations In Six States (See List)
Telecom operators have threatened to shut down network services in seven states over closure of Base Transceiver Stations (BTS) by the state governments.
Association of Licensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria (ALTON) Chairman, Engr. Gbenga Adebayo, while addressing a press conference on the state of the industry yesterday said Ogun, Ondo, Akwa Ibom, Ebonyi, Osun and Kaduna states are treating telecoms industry as an extractive sector by imposing myriads of taxes on operators and closing down the BTS sites arbitrarily.
ALTON’s chairman said many sites in the listed states have been shut down or about to be shut by agents of government not minding the security and economic implications on their states.
According to him, the Association has resolved that its members will not reopen any sites closed by state or local government authority.
“The arbitrary sites closure without following the Nigeria Communications Commission, (NCC) guidelines and best practices will no longer be tolerated,” he added.
He noted that ALTON’s members continue to record cases of sites closures in many states in an attempt to force service providers to pay local taxes and levies.
He said some of these levies and taxes are multiple in nature because most of them are only aimed toward telecom operators.
He said, “We are considering very carefully the situation of site closure and harassment of our members in some of those states and we may begin anytime soon to have them feel the impact of their actions on telecom operators if they do not desist from deliberate disruption of our operations.”
He said ALTON will serve the necessary warnings and if such practices continue: “we are then faced with two options: first is to pay the charges by such state government, and to increase the tariff chargeable for calls originating and terminating from networks in such states: With all the attendant service delivery issues.
“Where such actions on the part of government continue: we shall then advise all our members, after due consultation with relevant authorities, because of the security and economic implications, to shut down the entire network in such state for one full day as a final warning to such state or local government area. Enough is enough.”
He appealed to President Muhammadu Buhari to place a presidential declaration on “telecom Infrastructure as Critical National Security and Economic Infrastructure” as provided by the cybercrime law of 2015.
Convicted Boko Haram Kingpin, Kabiru Sokoto, Sues FG For N300 Million
The Abuja Division of the Federal High Court has fixed February 4 to hear a fresh suit lodged against the Federal Government by the convicted kingpin of the Boko Haram sect, Kabiru Umar. a.k.a. Kabiru Sokoto.
The High Court had on December 20, 2013, convicted and sentenced Sokoto to life imprisonment after he was found guilty of masterminding the Christmas day bomb blast that killed about 44 persons and wounded 75 others at St. Theresa’s Catholic Church at Madalla, Niger State, in 2011.
In his judgment, trial Justice Adeniyi Ademola said he was satisfied that the federal government successfully established the culpability of the convict beyond every reasonable doubt, noting that ‘Sokoto’ had in two separate confessional statements, admitted that he had prior knowledge of the attack.
The court noted that the accused person, throughout the trial, never showed any remorse for his actions, describing him as “a pathological liar with no regards for the truth.”
Besides, the court observed that ‘Sokoto’ had in a statement he voluntarily made on January 14, 2012, shortly after he was apprehended, confessed that he was a key member of the Boko Haram sect.
Justice Adeniyi who read a portion of the said statement where the accused person averred: “Here in Abaji, nobody knows that I am a Boko Haram member, much so, I have about 500 children that I teach Quran”, added that ‘Sokoto’, in page four of his statement, confessed that under his supervision, “the Madalla church bombing was carried out by one Bashir Mohammed, Muhktar Kafanchan and others who I cannot remember their names now.”
The court further noted that one of the eight Boko Haram members the accused gave AK-47 Rifles and directed to bomb police stations and other government agencies in Sokoto state, after he was caught by a team of policemen during a shootout, exposed the operations of the sect and manipulated
‘Kabiru Sokoto’ as the person in charge of the coordination of bomb attacks.
Meantime, Sokoto who earlier instituted N300 million suit against the government over alleged torture, yesterday, re-approached the high court, accusing the federal government of frustrating his efforts to get his conviction upturned at the Court of Appeal.
In a fresh motion on notice he filed through his lawyer, Mr. Sheriff Okoh, Sokoto further alleged that the Comptroller of Prisons and his men have made it impossible for him to have access to his lawyer, to enable him perfect his appeal process.
The motion which has the Comptroller General of Prisons, CGP, and Attorney General of the Federation, AGF, as respondents, is seeking an order from the court, compelling the respondents to allow Sokoto who is currently detained at the Kirikiri Maximum Security Prison, Lagos, to have access to his legal team.
The applicant is equally seeking a declaration that the federal government, by denying him access to his lawyers, have thus violated his right to fair hearing, right to counsel and access to justice.
In a supporting affidavit deposed to by Okoh, it was alleged that several applications to the CGP by Sokoto’s lawyer for opportunity to see him, were turned down.
“We have made several personal contacts with the 1st defendant (CGP), his men: S. N. Nwanchukwu (PSO), E. O. Ogundele (DCG) among others, at the Nigeria Prisons headquarters, Abuja in a bid to persuade them to permit us to see the applicant, but they kept making us indulge in fruitless returns for approvals from the 2nd respondent (AGF) that has not come for over two years.
“Wherefore, we verily believe that their actions are aimed at ensuring that the applicant’s appeal of his conviction and sentence continues to be frustrated in perpetuity.”
“The applicant’s appeal before the Court of Appeal is being delayed as a result of the conduct of the 1st respondent and men under his command and supervision,” Okoh averred.
When the matter was called up yesterday, Justice Nnamdi Dimgba who was assigned the case-file, observed that there was no evidence before the court to show that the respondents were duly served with the process.
Consequently, Justice Dimgba directed Sokoto’s lawyer to go and serve the respondents and return to court on the next adjourned date.
It will be recalled that ‘Sokoto’ was on May 20, 2013, docked before the court on an amended 2-count terrorism charge.
Aside allegation that he trained over 500 men on how to manufacture and detonate Improvised Explosive Devices, IEDs, the federal government, alleged that he had prior knowledge that the sect planned to bomb the church on Christmas day but failed to disclose it to law enforcement officer as soon as reasonably practicable.
He was said to have between 2007 and 2012, at Mabira Sokoto, Sokoto state, facilitated the commission of terrorist act including planting bombs at the Police headquarters and some government organizations in the state. He was charged under section 15(2) of the EFCC Act, 2011, and section 17 of the Terrorism Prevention Act, 2011.
FG told the court that the accused person instituted his terrorist training camp at Abaji, a suburb town in Abuja.
Though he was previously arrested by the Police in Abuja on January 14, 2012, Sokoto was declared missing two days later.
His mysterious escape from custody had culminated to the sack of the erstwhile Inspector General of Police, Mr. Hafiz Ringim and former Commission of Police in-charge of the Federal Capital Territory, Mallam Zakari Biu who was out rightly dismissed from the Force. However, he was subsequently re-arrested on February 10, 2012.
Economist magazine calls Goodluck Jonathan an ineffectual buffoon in new article
"In the eight months since Mr Buhari arrived at Aso Rock, the presidential digs, the homicidal jihadists of Boko Haram have been pushed back into the bush along Nigeria’s borders. The government has cracked down on corruption, which had flourished under the previous president, Goodluck Jonathan, an ineffectual buffoon who let politicians and their cronies fill their pockets with impunity. Lai Mohammed, a minister, reckons that just 55 people stole $6.8 billion from the public purse over seven recent years."- Read the full article here
Rivers state Government asks Amaechi to account for N3 trillion
“Amaechi left the most abandoned projects in the history of Rivers State since 1997. Thousands of workers were without their salaries for four months and thousands of teachers were not paid for nearly 12 months. We have so many abandoned projects which huge sums have been paid but projects are yet to be completed. We have the Mono-rail project that gulped over N60bn and it was abandoned. We have the Woji road project awarded at N3bn. There was a variation of the project to the upward of N14bn but it was abandoned. We inherited the project and completed it. There are so many of the abandoned projects. We have the Karibi George 250 bed project where huge sums of money were paid but no single block was laid at the site” he said.The commissioner said the Wike-led government will explore legal means that will help compel those who looted the state treasury to face the law and be punished accordingly.
The Economist Accuses Buhari Of "Worsening Nigeria's Economy"
Give me lucky generals,” Napoleon is supposed to have said, preferring them to talented ones. Muhammadu Buhari, a former general, has not had much luck when it comes to the oil price. Between 1983 and 1985 he was Nigeria’s military ruler. Just before he took over, oil prices began a lengthy collapse; the country’s export earnings fell by more than half.
The economy went into a deep recession and Mr Buhari, unable to cope, was overthrown in a coup. Now he is president again. (He won a fair election last year against a woeful opponent; The Economist endorsed him.) And once again, oil prices have slumped, from $64 a barrel on the day he was sworn in to $32 eight months later. Growth probably fell by half in 2015, from 6.3% to little more than 3% (see article).
Oil accounts for 70% of the government’s revenues and 95% of export earnings. The government deficit will widen this year to about 3.5% of GDP. The currency, the naira, is under pressure. The central bank insists on an exchange rate of 197-199 naira to the dollar. On the black market, dollars sell for 300 naira or more. Instead of letting the naira depreciate to reflect the country’s loss of purchasing power, Mr Buhari’s government is trying to keep it aloft.
The central bank has restricted the supply of dollars and banned the import of a long list of goods, from shovels and rice to toothpicks. It hopes that this will maintain reserves and stimulate domestic production. When the currency is devalued, all imports become more expensive.
But under Mr Buhari’s system the restrictions on imports are by government fiat. Factory bosses complain they cannot import raw materials such as chemicals and fret that, if this continues, they may have to shut down. Many have turned to the black market to obtain dollars, and are doubtless smuggling in some of the goods that have been banned. Nigerians have heard this tune before. Indeed, Mr Buhari tried something similar the last time he was president. Then, as now, he resisted what he called the “bitter pill” of devaluation.
When, as a result, foreign currency ran short, he rationed it and slashed imports by more than half. When Nigerians turned to the black market he sealed the country’s borders. When unemployment surged he expelled 700,000 migrants. Barking orders at markets did not work then, and it will not work now. Mr Buhari is right that devaluation will lead to inflation—as it has in other commodity exporters. But Nigeria’s policy of limiting imports and creating scarcity will be even more inflationary. A weaker currency would spur domestic production more than import bans can and, in the long run, hurt consumers less.
The country needs foreign capital to finance its deficits but, under today’s policies, it will struggle to get any. Foreign investors assume that any Nigerian asset they buy in naira now will cost less later, after the currency has devalued. So they wait. Those who fail to learn from history... Mr Buhari’s tenure has in some ways been impressive. He has restored a semblance of security to swathes of northern Nigeria that were overrun by schoolgirl-abducting jihadists. He has won some early battles against corruption. Some of his economic policies are sound, too. He has indicated that he will stop subsidising fuel and selling it at below-market prices.
This is brave, since the subsidies are popular, even though they have been a disaster (the cheap fuel was often sold abroad and petrol stations frequently ran dry). If Mr Buhari can find the courage to let fuel cost what the market says it should, why not the currency, too? You can forgive the general for being unlucky; but not for failing to learn from past mistakes.
